‘One game at a time’ as Tudors gear up for action-packed festive spell

Adam Hull

Hemel Town manager Dean Brennan insists his side will be taking it one game at a time over the busy festive period as they prepare for four games in the space of 11 days.

The Tudors welcome Wealdstone to Vauxhall Road on Boxing Day, before heading to Maidenhead United on Monday, December 28. They make the return trip to Wealdstone on Saturday, January 2, and then host Eastbourne Borough the following Tuesday.

Oliver Hawkins is on his way to League Two. Picture (c) Terry Rickeard

“It’s one game at a time for us, it always is and we will stick to that rule,” said Brennan. “In my first year of management I used to look at bunches of four or five games and target a certain amount of points, but I learnt that you can’t do that.

“You just can’t predict football – Norwich have gone to Manchester United and won, Ebbsfleet have been beaten by Bath, and the top-six have all lost in our division. That’s why we love football and the emotions that it gives us.”

Looking ahead at the visit of Wealdstone, Brennan said: “They are a very organised side with a very experienced management team. They are a big football club at this level with fantastic support so we are looking forward to it. It should be a good game.

“We then head over to Maidenhead on the Monday, and they are very similar to Wealdstone in the way they play; they both go with the same formation.

“Both sides make sure that they are solid defensively, first and foremost, and we know we will have to be at our best if we are to get positive results.

“We have to work collectively and make sure that we don’t give anything away because it is important we don’t get beaten.”

The Tudors boss continued: “We will go into them positively, like we always do, and we will try and win them. We’ll see how we get on, it’s all about consistency.

“Over Christmas, you get some funny results so we will just see how we get on.”

Brennan is hopeful that Dennis Oli and Matty Spring will be fit to return to the side against Wealdstone, while Ben Herd is available for selection against Maidenhead following suspension. Mo Shariff misses out through injury (dead leg).